How to - Pick a Crab

Professional crab picker, Joyce Fitchett from Crisfield, explains how she picks meat from the body of a Blue Crab.

[@MisterGeezy]

When she said "I've been picking crabs since I was 5 years old and now I'm 70." I stopped the video and deleted all the long 'how to pick crab' videos in my KZbin recipe folder. 🙂

[@sheilamoye5178]

I know that's right, 💯💖 she knows what she's doing.

[@JumbaFan]

Yup! The way I used to do it worked well enough, but it took too long. I tried it her way tonight, and while I'm not nearly as fast as she is, it still took me a fraction of the time it would usually take me. She probably just did this video and went on with her life, thinking nothing of it, but this is some valuable information, and she's a great teacher.

[@SophisticatedRedneckery]

Ain’t that the truth!

[@SophisticatedRedneckery]

Been picking crabs my whole life and a different way. I am now going to pick crabs like our girl here!! Awesome

[@Rod_Perfect]

😅

[@danasutton4682]

That’s my grandmother, Pamela, to the left of Ms. Joyce! These ladies still pick crabs at Metompkins’ Seafood in Crisfield, MD! ❤️

[@dynamite6507]

Nice they are the unseen heros

[@Jopordopy2]

Do you know the brand name of her knife? Or where they get their knives? I’m from Salisbury and been picking wrong my whole life…ha! Very impressive.

[@RichardColwell1]

I bet you Joyce got some good stories to listen to while working

[@tezzyboy79]

This is the best and shortest tutorial I have seen and I’m definitely going to use it. She knows exactly what she’s doing. My one sadness about living overseas is not having Maryland blue crabs in the summertime the best ever.

[@lasker31]

Joyce, thank you for sharing a piece of the knowledge you have acquired in your 65 years of picking crabs. I love crabs and you are my hero.

[@MISSLOVELY_REE]

5 years old now you a granny thank you for teaching me this unique skill god bless

[@walteranderson7676]

Hello and thanks Grandma Joyce for this video. No fluff, clear and straight to the point.

[@dacollector8995]

Its amazing how fast she works they had to slow it down for us to see it

[@danicook5520]

Loved watching this. Shows you we can learn from the older generations if you have the patience to listen.

[@bobpaulino4714]

These young people would rather eat imitation crab. If you pulled the carapace off and they saw the mustard and roe along with the other goodies, they'd never touch another.

[@davidh9823]

The mustard...LOL! That's what my grandmother use to say when I was younger. She would tell me, "it's mustard, just eat it".

[@lesliefleming4359]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. What a wonderful job❤

[@andreas4417]

It is always a pleasure to watch a pro at work. Very nice.

[@tonyaprince_1985]

That is EXACTLY how you pick a blue crab to get all of the meat out. I was taught that way when I was about 7 and have doing it that way ever since. Thank you Mrs. Mercedes Bell for that lesson.

[@derekdrummond9018]

That’s the only way to do a crab

[@oldironsides4107]

The meat is the worst part. Shell, lungs, eyes. She’s wasting

[@georgecrosby113]

Exactly how my Dad trained me to pick Crabs some 55 years ago. He was taught by crabhouse pickers when he worked as a dump truck driver hauling the shells away!! When I watch crab "picking" videos I turn them off as soon as they vary from this method. Thank you for showing the world how to do it!!!

[@terrencenojokebozeman7920]

That's God level of picking crab... This the best instructor I've seen since my grandmother.

[@friendofanimalsa3816]

What losers.

[@noahsmith1814]

@@friendofanimalsa3816 hey man you're a massive asshole, this woman is trying to make a living stop being so rude

[@friendofanimalsa3816]

@@noahsmith1814, one can make a fuckin living without killing others. Simple as that.

[@BOUNCEVALORANT]

Friend of Animals A you sound like a pussy to me idk

[@coochiecutter.4457]

Friend of Animals A who is she killing lol , the crabs 😂. Stop whining

[@onoahimahi]

I’ve been catching my own crabs recreationally with crab pots, steaming and picking to make crab cakes. I need to get faster at the picking part and have been attempting to use this video to do so and am very grateful for it. She is a master and although her technique looks simple, I found it difficult to emulate but I am getting there slowly. I had to break it down step by step and discovered that part of my difficulty is that she is handling the right-hand-side and left-hand-side of the crab differently. For example, on the RHS she picked the lump out of the top piece, and on the LHS she picked the lump out of the bottom piece. I wrote down the steps in order to emulate. The steps are 1) RHS, crab right-side-up, cut off legs from front to back. Knife is pointed up. 2) “Cut the top piece off, straight across” with a deep cut that includes most of the lump with the top of crab and picks the lump. 3) Cuts away and tosses something that she doesn’t mention that she refers to later on the LHS as “little thin layer of bone”. 4) then she picks the grooves on the top part. 5) then on the bottom she picks the meat out of the grooves putting the bottom part of the lump with the body meat, not the lump meat. Now for the LHS: 1) with the crab up-side-down, cut off the legs from back to front with the knife pointed down. 2) Flip crab back to right-side-up and cut the top piece off from back-to-front. 3) Then she removes a “little thin layer of bone” that she removed above but didn’t mention. 4) pick out the grooves on the top side. 5) Back to the bottom part of the body right-side-up, remove the lump and pick out the grooves. I'm going to keep trying until I master it!

[@MidiRoseVax]

Dude I think you are correct. Thanks for your detailed explanation. I am going to try this today. I got a dozen crabs at home cleaned and already sauteed. I need to get her technique down. It will make eating crab so much more enjoyable!!! I've tried her technique before unsuccesfully. You notes I think are the cure!!!

[@craigs1585]

Joyce that is awesome. Your speed and ease of cleaning, makes it look easier than it is. Thanks

[@watchingyou5003]

History, legacy this nice lady has spent a lifetime at doing this. God bless her. If I could I'd like to take her out for a 5 star meal some place, she deserves it.

[@noahsmith1814]

do you think she'd order the crab?

[@watchingyou5003]

@@noahsmith1814 haha. I think she might want to have the steak for a change

[@dicknixon7778]

She prolly got more money the you... its a passion

[@watchingyou5003]

@@dicknixon7778 well that’s prollly the dumbest thing anyone has ever said.

[@traviswilliams6088]

this is the best crab picking instructional video in have ever seen. thank you so much for sharing.

[@jncomstate]

Fantastic, I have seen all , but her's top them ALL-most logically illustrated and explained.

[@JumbaFan]

We had a lot of leftover crabs from a crab party, and I was dreading having to pick them all. The way I learned how to do it worked, but it took a long time, and I had close to a half bushel to get through. I watched this video, and I just want to thank you! I'm nowhere near as fast, but I can improve with time, and a job that would normally take me a few hours only took one. KZbin can be a wonderful teaching tool, and you've taught me something valuable. Thank you! Now I'm off to enjoy some crab dip!

[@josephcatoir8853]

Thanks for sharing. So many lost arts these days. I never realized how lucky we had it here. We have had an old couple in their 90's peeling our crabs for years n Morgan City La. they passed a few years back and are really missed.We will be picking our own now. Thanks so much.

[@0FlowerPop0]

thanks ms joyce we love you. much love from washington state ❤️

[@minorojr]

Thank You Miss Joyce! You até the best! I Never see someone with such technique!!!

[@W2VQY]

I have to agree this is the very best demonstration I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing.

[@distractedkenzo4523]

This is amazing. Thank you Ms. Joyce. ❤️

[@davemazza791]

The master has spoken! ❤️👍🏽🦀

[@earthsciteach]

Thank you for the lesson, Ms. Fitchett. I have about a quarter of a bushel to clean tomorrow. I'm sure you would go through those in no time!

[@crazyleg2006]

Thank ya Miss Joyce... straight to the point. Good video.

[@ashleymiller5638]

Ms. Joyce, thank you for showing us how it’s done. I would love to just sit and talk with you about life!

[@djleslie777]

Thanks for sharing! You make it look so easy. Great job!

[@saltypaws6742]

I hope this video makes it to the top of the Google search. By far, the best way to pick a crab. This is coming from a MD guy who picked crabs when he was 5 also.. But didn't learn the best way till I was 20. Thankful that Joyce confirmed my last 29 years i got it right. Thanks to Talbot County too. (pronounced 'tall-but'') County. Its where I learned the same method.

[@drexellake4051]

Best I've seen yet. Can't wait to try it. Thank you

[@goodvibes6340]

I have a developed allergy to shellfish, nonetheless thank you ma’am for this!! The stories she probably tells and knowledge ❤️❤️❤️ just thank you 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@harlankilmon998]

When I saw the still shot I knew she was a professional just by the way she was holding the crab. I was not disappointed. Besides, this is mostly the technique I use. I’m a crab eater from Virginia since way back. My father was in the crab and oyster business, I recognize!

[@alisarandall2589]

Harlan Kilmon my grandmother picked crabs for Saddlers in Annapolis, Md. You're right about her hands. This is exactly how my grandma taught me. Love this video for many reasons.

[@friendofanimalsa3816]

Congrats for being 2 sick fuks!

[@gradybrowning3976]

Pro, I was in the biz for 25 years in FL.

[@catboyzee]

Watching this helps me understand why buying processed crab meat is so doggone expensive. Not only that, but also the costs of keeping it fresh and unspoiled after packaging is a task in itself.

[@BignorbScratches]

Wow, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience

[@savannah82374]

that's great respect right there.. takes me about 10 minutes to crack open a leg..

[@friendofanimalsa3816]

Awesome! I'm glad it only takes 10 minutes to crack your legs! I've never tried because I'm not a neanderthal like you.

[@fookutube501]

Yellow stuff is my fav part

[@friendofanimalsa3816]

Throw you to the hungry lions! They'd love it!

[@fookutube501]

@ Friend of Bestiality. Irrelevant comment troll....Back to the bushes with you hermit

[@marcopolo6390]

Love this lady

[@keithsaulsbury4304]

takes a lot of skill to pick a crab like Miss Joyce. she is an expert!

[@waynespyker5731]

What did she do with the claws and legs? Pro for crab cakes, the claw meat is better tasting.

[@richardcortez8065]

Legend. Thank you for sharing.

[@margenewman9543]

I will be down there to get my crab on!! 2021 can't wait!

[@nolunchbreak_9127]

Thank you for the knowledge

[@semperfi1042]

Amazing. Thank you for sharing. You're a pro Joyce

[@friendofanimalsa3816]

Amazing! You're sick!

[@agodfather1975]

Get off your highhorse, fool

[@zynthesis]

This lady is eating a bushel in 15 minutes. While us peons are eating a dozen in 4 hours.

[@josephbennett728]

Finally a lady that actually knows how to pick a crab

[@veronicamilton5757]

That's exactly how I learned to pick crabs at crabhouses on Deal Island and down Wenona when I was about 8 years old.

[@opertinicy]

I thought I was good at picking blue crabs until I saw this. Awesome knife skills! (though I'm a bit intimidated to try it without cut-resistant gloves)

[@persuck]

great video, i'm going to go try and pick some blue swimmers for the first time!

[@davidcampos533]

She is AMAZING 😀

[@tsturchio7695]

Wish I had found this when I was in Manteo a few weeks ago. We hour our catch steamed locally and ate them at a park bench. Was a lot of work the way we did it.

[@KienThucDoDay]

wow, once you've been doing something for 65 years. you do know what your'e talking about. thx for the technique. I think you are the Bruce Lee of crab picking. way to go :)

[@casullarms1]

This lady is a real pro.

[@abrahamkim1078]

Now that’s a master class.

[@shrimpmoney8]

A woman of few words but stories to tell.

[@MaineGreenCrabs]

Amazing talent, not easy to do so well. 👍🏻

[@janevanskike2101]

Excellent.

[@captainsunbear5472]

professional crab meat extractor! wow!

[@nicolewhitley3640]

Omg 😲 From DMV but now live in Atlanta. That's one thing I hate...no crabs only during mating season ,after I get em delivered...Im about to get in my car straight to Austell Seafood here in smaryna lol

[@visionofmalkav]

Set the speed to 1.75 to see how fast she's actually doing this and prepare to be amazed.

[@Wyland42]

What do they do with the legs or is there just not enough meat to get from them?

[@vickikriner9247]

Awesome ❤

[@jamiejenkins5643]

Amazing

[@lavapop1900]

"Thank you, that's it" ❤

[@kneelbeforethelord917]

What a legend

[@traceritops]

What is that little knife??

[@vallo105]

What about the legs and claws?

[@yeseniaflores5250]

Need to practice this technique

[@friendofanimalsa3816]

Just another idiot subhuman. Practice on your kid.

[@Ena48145]

@@friendofanimalsa3816 wtf?

[@markanderson6716]

She leaves a lot of meat and fat on the table, but she is getting paid by the pound, not what she can eat. Great video. Thanks Joyce.

[@n.morris102]

No meat is left. What you don't see is she has 3 different containers to her left. One is for lump, one is for claw meat and the third is for any and all other meat pieces scraped off. Nothing is wasted of a crab except the big shell because other parts of a crab plant actually process what everyone else is thinking to be thrown away.

[@sidneydona846]

Gotta save that mustard for mi auntie..💚✌🏽

[@wesdavis7371]

YES!!

[@friendofanimalsa3816]

Yes, you are sick!!!

[@b.7811]

Girl imma try that rn

[@HarPlayer]

no 1 show's slow mo like this : )

[@avamelia7410]

Hell the fuck yes! This is the video I’ve been searching for! 🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@francesoreilly5642]

Your language, PLEASE’ 🤨

[@qtaylor04]

Thank you... that’s it

[@emilcapati6700]

Is that knofe specifically for crab picking?

[@cocopunch]

Where can I buy a knife like that?

[@judypasqualone5392]

This is great turptorial...pretty much how I do it but I like her knife...has a narrower tip than mine. Thanks.

[@friendofanimalsa3816]

Use it on ..

[@Spider_7_7]

👏

[@rickb.3666]

Off to get a good knife! Thank you

[@ChefKevinRiese]

You make that look too easy!

[@pharoahlove4721]

Damn she is fast

[@tionne0112]

That’s how I pick my crabs

[@Jupe367]

thank you, that's it. - lol

[@Joseph-Colin-EXP]

Man I wish I saw this on vacation when I was picking for 4 yo

[@charlieduvall6463]

That girl is amazing . GOD BLESS HER SOUL.

[@staccatoglock]

This black Karen know her shit🤩🥳

[@stevepereira8898]

Yes Mam dats how you do it

[@steverussel9842]

Those containers must be very expensive

[@ballistic350]

Mustard are good eating..damn explains why cost so much for a pt all hand picked..

[@gradybrowning3976]

Yes and 10 dollar crab cakes.

[@gradybrowning3976]

Pro

[@freddyf8999]

all this time I've been eating 🦀 wrong

[@friendofanimalsa3816]

Right, eat your kids!

[@curtisyastic4130]

Strait muthafuckken professional

[@chanellhaze3967]

They would have came to my station and it just be shells. NO MEAT🤣🤣🤣💀☠️💀☠️

[@fidodidozig]

What a sharp knife 🗡️🔪🗡️🔪

[@gerald542]

I ned that knife.

[@RedwoodGhost80]

I bet thos lady makes the best crab cakes and never eats them.

[@tequisaholloway1738]

Damn where is my butter and garlic, mmmm

[@nicolewhitley3640]

I know I from dmv but now live in atlanta no crabs only mating season after I get em delivered...i was saying same thing I about to get in my car straight to Austell Seafood here in smaryna lol

[@dynamite6507]

Better question how do you get the smell off your hands ✋️

[@gailsfoodandstuff]

lemon juice or bleach/water mixture.

[@kaizenryan7783]

What about the legs tho